Australia Day: Police launch Operation Amity to catch unlicensed drivers
Thinking of getting behind the wheel unlicensed during the Australia Day break? Chances are you’ll get caught.
South East
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Police have issued a warning for anyone without a licence thinking about driving over the Australia Day break: you will be caught.
Police will be out in force as part of Operation Amity using automatic number plate recognition technology to detect unlicensed, suspended and disqualified drivers and motorcyclists.
Every highway patrol vehicle has been fitted with the technology and additional police cars will patrol regional and specialist areas.
In a recent operation, 33 per cent more drivers were detected driving unlicensed, disqualified or suspended.
Operation Amity will begin at 12.01am on Wednesday, January 25 finish at 11.59pm on Sunday January 29.
Police will be highly visible during the five-day operation, monitoring major arterials, holiday hot spots and rural roads.
Twenty-four lives have already been lost in Victoria in the first three weeks of 2023, doubling the five-year average of 12.
Annual results from 2022 show unauthorised drivers were involved in 31 fatal collisions last year, a 29 per cent increase from 2021.
Operation Amity follows a 12-day Christmas blitz, which uncovered 4803 speeding offences and 886 positive drug and alcohol readings.
Assistant Commissioner Road Policing Glenn Weir said unauthorised drivers should think twice before getting into the driver’s seat.
“Police will be highly visible to reduce road trauma during Operation Amity. We’ll be targeting speeding motorists and conducting widespread alcohol and drug testing during the Australia Day period,” he said.
“You will be caught.”
gemma.scerri@news.com.au
